Fire-extinguisher unit



Dec. 10, 1929. w. D. WITTER FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNIT Filed Aug. 3, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11w NTOR M an BY r M /W 4/; A'ITORNE Dec. I0, 1929. w. D. WITTER FIRE EXTINGUISH'ER UNIT Filed Aug. s. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iVENTOR the eration of which causes the system to b a bracket 11. This manifold delivers b i 15 Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of the in Fig. 3.

Patented Dec. 10, 1929 v J JLQZFFFE'CE swrmxs D. .WIT ER, OF .vrrcainawsieaii, isg Bx LEESIIEXASSIGNMEMS To ,gAMEB'ICANLA, ERANCEQAND IQ-AMJITE ooirro'RArIoN, Accnrona'rron or NEW aYDRK r g V V y .F.IR :EXTINGUIS3ER III NIT nppli cation filed August 3, i325. Ser iaLNo. 47,701.

gThe object of this invention is a compact main containers by bracket straps 7 at their pressure pp'eratedfoamype. fire: extinguisher flower'ends and by clamp brackets 8 at their I Systemconstructedas a self-containediunit, upper ends; the latter brackets are jointed adaptediteloccupy. but little floor space,f and 'andprovided with wing-nuts, for easy open- 'being'therebyspecially suited for use on shiping, 'as appears in Fig. 2, so that the cylboard andin, otherlrestricted spaces. iThe i'ninders can be readily removed and replaced. venticnccnsists the general organization fThe two, or more, cylinders are connected and :infihe cembinationtherewith of a'special byjflexible coils of metal tubing 9 to a gas valve structure having a single control lever, manifold 10, supported on the main container operate. pipe12'to a pressure-regulator valve 18 of any The preferred form of the invention 1s 1lsu table. design and thence through a preslustrated 1n the accompanying drawing sure gauge I to a safetyvalve 14, and thence wherein tothe'b'ottom of'the control valve as shown tanks with the piping and valve structure he control valve comprises a valve casing in elevation; and an interior rotary plugmember which Fig. 2 a top plan; is hollow and divicl d into two compartments, Fig. 3 a Vertical section on IIIIII in V the upper of which, marked 16, .is a mixing larger scale, the control valve being Open; chamber for the'solutions, as presently de- 70 and, scribed, and the lower of which, 17, is a dis- Fig. 4 is a section on IVIV. tributing chamber for-the pressure-gas. This The two foam-making solutions of standl tte artm nt is formed as an open-endard composition are respectively contained ed cavity in the inner end of th valve in a main Outer y i d ica Container 1 and bernormally in communication with gas pipe an inner container 2. The mai Container 12 and adapted to register when the valve rests by its lower end on the floor and constim mb j t d t o iti ith t tutes the support for the rest of the app opposite gaseutlet ports. These ports are rat-us being wide enough to insure adequate "amt-lied l8 and each is provided with a pro- Stability although on Ship-board the app Jecting externally threaded nipple; one of 30 Yams is desirably pp to a Stahchloh Q them connects by pipe 19 with the outer conbolted to the deck- The inner container 18 miner, mi the other by pipe 20 with the inner removably supported in the outer centainer, t i at its bottom by seating in a seat on the bot- Th di h f th l ti b way tom of the main Container at its p, y of the selutioii pipes 21 and 22 to the two solu- 3 its flange 3 Whichflahge is clamped against the tion inlet ports 23 and 24 formed on opposite head ring 4 of the main container y the Com! sides ofthe valve casing. The basic solution Plate The interiors of the two Containers is ordinarily contained in the outer container are thus ly Separate and normally out and the inlet portfor this solution is larger 40 Q ccmhluhicatioh With each h Each is than the corresponding port for the acid solu- Provided with a charging opemhg p h I tionj the difference in sizeis'indicated in Fig. ed y the Chained Cover Caps appearing in gilwherein it will appear also that the dis- 0116 of @11656 filling p g is through the charge passages are both restricted at the Cover pla e 5 and bo h p n ngs Will e unport entrance, which is for the purpose of proq 45 derstood to be normally tightly closed. ducing a high velocity or et-delivery of the Pressure for expelling the solutions from i entering sbl tionsandjorc bly mpingement ;the containers into the piping and mixing and mix ng. iThe correspqndlng 1 07 31 "fchamber, is derived from two cylinders of, sages in the rotary valve member re 'ister "compressed gas, such as CO These cylin """th t a e i sz i e p rtsffia 2. u 5 0 ders aremarked 6 and both are held to the fl'v' 'ygith 'l cpen ng 'ohgas cutlets ports 18 of the gas distributing compartment 17, so that when the pressure is applied, the solution delivery connections are also made.

The foam is produced in the interior of the movable member of the control valve and escapes therefrom through the foam port 25 which registers with the opening through the externally threaded hose coupling 25 when the other ports are open.

The hose is coiled and supported on hookbracket 26 so that it hangs directly against the side of the main container, opposite the gas cylinders and to keep it in compact form, itis located between two lateral arms 27, arojecting rom the side of the main container. One of these arms terminates in a ring or hook 28 in which the hose nozzle is inserted to keep it from swinging. A normally open "nozzle is used, i. e. one which has no shut-off valve to close it, so that there will be no danger of bursting the hose in the event that excessive pressure from the gas cylinders should reach it.

It will be understood that the system is put in operation by simply opening the combined mixing chamber and control valve, by means of its handle 29, the movement of which is limited to an arc of 90. After use,

I any residual pressure in the system can be vented by opening the blow-oil cock 30, the valves on the gas cylinder being first closed. The outer container which holds the basi solution is provided with a drain-cock 31 which can be used for removing the basic .solution, without discharging the system, when it requires renewing on account of age.

he basic solution is ordinarily a solution of bicarbonate o1 soda and water and in the course of time suffers a decomposition into carbonate of soda which is not efiicient for foam production; the acid solution does not deteriorate. Each of the pipe connections between the combined mixing chamber and control valve is provided with a disconnectible pipe-coupling whereby they may be opened and swung to one side to provide space for the opening of the cover 5 or the withdrawal of the inner container when that is necessary. It will be seen that the apparatus described 1s exceedingly compact and simple to operate and maintain and that it is adapted for producing foam consisting of proper and constant proportions of the acid and basicsolutions and also that it is specially suited for marine use.

The following is claimed:

The combination. with a fluid pressure contamer, two containers for component foammaking solutions and a discharge hose,'of a unitary control valve structure comprising a hollow valve body interiorly divided into. two compartments, a housing for said valve body, pipe connections from said pressure container to said housing and an inlet therethrough to one of said compartments, outlets therefrom connected to each of said solution containers, pipe connections from each of the latter to the housing and inlets therethrough to the other of said compartments, an outlet from the latter to said discharge hose, said second mentioned compartment being "of greater dimension than the inlets from the solution containers and the outlet to the discharge hose, thereby constituting said compartment a mixing chamber for the foammaking solutions, and an operating handle connected to said valve body for moving the same in its housing thereby simultaneously to control the flow paths from the fluid pressure container to the solution containers, from the latter to the mixing chamber and from said chamber to the discharge hose.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

WILLIS D. WITTER. 

